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Polling during war: Challenges and lessons from Ukraine

Author

Listed:
  • Kit Rickard
  • Gerard Toal
  • Kristin M. Bakke
  • John O'Loughlin

Abstract

Collecting public opinion data is challenging in the shadow of war. And yet accurate public opinion is crucial. Political elites rely on it and often attempt to influence it. Therefore, it is incumbent on researchers to provide independent and reliable wartime polls. However, surveying in wartime presents a distinctive set of challenges. We outline two challenges facing polling in war: under-coverage and response bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Kit Rickard & Gerard Toal & Kristin M. Bakke & John O'Loughlin, 2023. "Polling during war: Challenges and lessons from Ukraine," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-144, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2023-144
    as

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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2023-144-polling-during-war-Ukraine.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bryn Rosenfeld & Kosuke Imai & Jacob N. Shapiro, 2016. "An Empirical Validation Study of Popular Survey Methodologies for Sensitive Questions," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 60(3), pages 783-802, July.
    2. Oleksandr Reznik, 2023. "The willingness of Ukrainians to fight for their own country on the eve of the 2022 Russian invasion," Post-Soviet Affairs, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(5), pages 329-346, September.
    3. Lyall, Jason & Blair, Graeme & Imai, Kosuke, 2013. "Explaining Support for Combatants during Wartime: A Survey Experiment in Afghanistan," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 107(4), pages 679-705, November.
    4. Jeremy Morris, 2023. "Political ethnography and Russian studies in a time of conflict," Post-Soviet Affairs, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1-2), pages 92-100, March.
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